SANTA COMES THROUGH WITH BETTER HEALTH FOR RAPTORS
Lineup reinforcements awaiting Toronto as they return home from tough road trip
The Toronto Raptors are finally home and, perhaps, finally healthy.
Or at least getting closer in that regard.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers — the team’s first tilt in Canada in two weeks — head coach Nick Nurse provided some encouraging news. Guard Norm Powell, who had arguably been playing the best basketball of his career before separating his shoulder on Nov. 5, was pronounced ready to return after going through a full practice on Tuesday.
“Norm is in, ready to go. He had a live practice today,” Nurse said before addressing the status of starters Kyle Lowry (thigh), Pascal Siakam (back) and Danny Green (eye) and sixth man Fred Vanvleet (back). All but Green, who was sporting goggles after being poked in the eye against Denver, missed Sunday’s game against the Nuggets, but Nurse said all four could potentially be in the lineup against the Pacers.
All but Lowry went through practice and the all-star point guard was termed “maybe more questionable than probable,” but the other three “want to give it a shot. … That doesn’t mean they’re ready yet, we’re going to see how they feel tomorrow,” Nurse said.
The Raps will hold a shootaround Wednesday and go from there. The news wasn’t all positive, though, as starting centre Serge Ibaka showed up on the afternoon injury report and was listed as questionable due to right knee swelling.
Powell had been shooting a career-best 47.6 per cent from the field and 40.9 per cent from beyond the arc before going down and with forwards C.J. Miles and OG Anunoby struggling with their shots, Powell should get a shot at helping fill the small forward void beyond Kawhi Leonard.
“Yeah, (Powell) just was really doing a good job of fulfilling a role, playing hard on (defence), taking the open situations on offence, not forcing the issue as much (as he has in the past),” Nurse said.
“It’s what we need him to do, especially now coming off the injury. He just needs to kind of play hard and settle in on the offensive end.”
NURSE FINED
In the least shocking news of the week, Nurse was fined US$15,000 by the NBA “for public criticism of the officiating” following Sunday’s loss at Denver. Nurse had gone to bat for Leonard, who he feels has not received enough respect in the form of free-throw attempts. Leonard constantly attacked the rim in that game, but was awarded only four free throws.
“You can’t tell me that one of the best players in the league takes 100 hits and shoots four free throws and they handed him two for charity at the end,” Nurse said after the game.
“So he was going to have two free throws for the game with all the physical hits and holding and driving and chucking and doubling and slapping and reaching and all the stuff. It’s been going on all year. I do not understand why they are letting everyone play one of the best players in the league so physically. I do not understand it.”
Nurse didn’t feel like re-addressing the topic much on Tuesday.
“I just thought it was time to do it. And you’re right, I’m gonna back my players,” Nurse said before elaborating a bit and finishing with, “let’s move on from this subject.”
Leonard and Miles admired Nurse’s stand. though.
“We’re playing it and we might see it a certain way and we always feel like we’re right on the floor, but when you have your coach watching it and seeing the same things you’re feeling, then it’s great,” Leonard said.
“Him going to war for you is big,” added Miles.
“There’s a lot of stuff, obviously, we can’t really say and he’s not supposed to say either, but sometimes somebody’s got to step out there. For your coach to do it first definitely lets you know he’s in the ring with you. They always talk about (the point guard) on the floor is an extension of the coach, the leaders. He’s one of the leaders on our team, too.”
AROUND THE RIM
Toronto’s 23 victories matched the franchise record through 30 games, originally set in 2014-15. The Raptors (23-9) are 0-2 since then … Indiana will be the 10th opponent currently holding a playoff position that Toronto has faced since Nov. 27. The team’s record is 5-4 in those games … Miles on if Leonard gets officiated properly: “Honestly, I think he gets hit a lot. I think bigger, stronger guys like him, they take a beating because they’re able to play through so much contact,” Miles said. “I think, sometimes, getting hit, it might not look the same as if (the diminutive Vanvleet) went in there and got hit, but it’s still a foul. That’s the way you look at it.” Miles said the officials have a challenging job. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to be a referee, honestly. It’s a tough situation on both sides,” Miles said.